Posted on 01/07/2004 8:56:16 AM PST by JohnnyZ
U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris said Tuesday that she is nearing a decision on whether to seek the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Bob Graham.
The state's controversial former secretary of state, a Republican, said she'll make up her mind by the end of next week. Her deliberations are of intense interest from Florida to the White House, where strategists worry about her rekindling Democratic memories of the 2000 election and sharing a ballot with President Bush.
But Harris, who rejected suggestions that the White House has asked her to put off a run, continued to make a case Tuesday for why this is her year. She said strategists and polls she has seen indicate she's the only Republican with enough appeal to take the seat from the Democrats.
''I'm the only one who has won statewide, and has more experience than anyone else,'' she said of the already crowded field of Republican contenders.
She did acknowledge, though, that she has been encouraged by the administration to challenge Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in 2006.
''That's a nice thought, but given the choice between an open seat or an incumbent, that's a really easy decision,'' she said.
Polls show that the one-term Sarasota congresswoman would become the GOP front-runner on the strength of her widespread name recognition and rock-star status among the party faithful.
But White House strategists fear that her presence on the ballot would reignite Democratic furor over the 2000 election in the country's biggest swing state.
And her entry in the race could imperil the White House's choice, former U.S. Housing Secretary Mel Martinez, a Cuban-born Republican who opened a campaign account Monday.
Martinez jumped into the race amid worries of some Republicans that the race lacked a heavyweight.
The other GOP candidates for the office are former U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum, state Sen. Daniel Webster, state House Speaker Johnnie Byrd and judicial activist Larry Klayman.
Harris said she's talked to strategists and fundraisers and is convinced that her presence wouldn't hurt the president.
''I incite far more Republicans to come out than Democrats,'' she said.
*Castor 42 v Harris 37% *Castor 35 v Martinez, 32% *Castor 36 v McCollum 35% *Crist 41% V Castor 35 %Sure gives credence to those folks who think Harris generates more opposition than support. Castor is stuck at 35-36% -- until she matches up against Harris, and gets an extra 6%. I really worry that she's a loser, and that she's a me-first politician.
Both Harris and Bill McCollum are still too incindiary. The left in this state still hate them with a vengance (Harris for Election 2000 and McCollum for the Clinton Impeachment) and would no doubt turn out just to make sure they don't get in, and we lose our shot at that seat.
Martinez is good. He's fresh, no controversial past. He was well liked here in Central Florida by most everybody when he left. He has a better shot of capturing that seat.
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